Neuroscience
/ˌnʊəroʊˈsaɪəns/noun
The scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Did you know?The Greek root neuron originally meant “sinew” or “tendon” before becoming associated with nerves, linking modern brain science to the language of bodily cords and fibers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sneu-
“To wind, twist, or form sinew-like cords”
Ancient Greek
Greek
neûron
“Sinew, tendon, or nerve”
Classical Latin
Latin
scientia
“Knowledge or understanding, from scīre, “to know””
17th Century
English
neuro-
“A combining form relating to nerves, derived from Greek neûron”
19th Century
English
science
“Systematic knowledge acquired through study and observation”
20th Century
English
neuroscience
“The scientific study of the nervous system, especially the brain”
Explore more surprising origins